Communications involve transmitting information from one point, for example sixth generation (6G) base station, to another, such us mobile phone user. Simultaneously sensing, in other words, radar functionality, while communicating helps the base station know its surrounding environment, which can improve the user’s performance.
For instance, the base station can accurately learn the user’s direction and focus on transmitting power only in that direction, without transmitting power in unwanted directions.
Novel signal processing for effective JCAS
Typically, in JCAS systems, the same transmit waveform is used for both functionalities such that the frequency-domain resources are shared optimally. The use of similar hardware resources for the two functionalities has complemented the growth of JCAS systems.
“In my dissertation, I provide novel signal processing techniques to design waveforms that optimally share the available spectral resources for the single antenna and multi-antenna JCAS systems. The performance improvements are validated through simulations as well as practical radio-frequency measurements”, Sahan Damith Liyanaarachchi says.
In addition, the study proposes novel methods for multi-antenna radar processing that improve the sensing performance.
“The dissertation showcases that integrating the sensing functionality on top of already developed wireless communications networks can be performed with realistic performance gains, opening up many possible applications for telecommunications service providers”, Liyanaarachchi continues.
Sahan Damith Liyanaarachchi carried out his research at Tampere University. He works as a Radio Research Scientist at Nokia Bell Labs in Espoo, Finland.
Public defence on Monday 12 June
The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. (Tech.) Sahan Damith Liyanaarachchi in the field of Communications Engineering titled Waveform Design and Processing for Joint Wireless Communications and Sensing will be publicly examined in the Faculty of Information Technology and Communications Sciences of Tampere University at Hervanta Campus in the auditorium TB109 of Tietotalo on Monday 12 June 2023 at 12.00 o’clock. The Opponent will be Associate Professor Besma Smida from University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. The Custos will be Associate Professor Taneli Riihonen from Tampere University, Finland. The work has been co-supervised by Professor Mikko Valkama from Tampere University.
The dissertation is available online.
The event can be also followed via remote connection.
Photo: Gehan Wishwajith Premathilake